Iago Aspas had fired the visitors into a two-goal lead with two fine finishes in the first half, but the game swung in Rayo's favour five minutes before half-time when defender Gustavo Cabral was shown a second yellow card.

Leo Baptistao and Tito then headed the hosts back on level terms after the break and Piti sealed the comeback with a penalty eight minutes from time.

Defeat means that Celta have now lost all six of their away league games this season, but they appeared well set for victory after a competent first-half display.

Aspas gave Rayo an early warning that his pace would cause them problems as he raced on to a long ball over the top, but Diego Cobeno was out just in time to block his effort.

The striker got his revenge seven minutes later, though, as he was played in by Alex Lopez and coolly drilled the ball low past Cobeno.

Rayo then came into the game and Tito should have done better when he fired into the side-netting from a narrow angle before Chori Dominguez shot straight at Javi Varas with another good opening.

However the hosts were still not coping with Aspas at the other end and he doubled his tally with an almost identical finish on 34 minutes from a fine pass by Michael Krohn-Dehli.

The game was turned on its head just before the break, though, as Cabral was very harshly sent-off for handling just outside the area.

Rayo went about making their man advantage count after the break and Leo reduced the arrears with a fine header from Jose Casado's cross just before the hour mark.

Andrija Delibasic and Piti then saw headers come off the bar but Rayo were level 18 minutes from time when Tito bulleted home Dominguez's cross.

And the comeback was complete 10 minutes later when Andres Tunez pulled down Delibasic inside the area and Piti coolly slotted home the penalty.